Item 1: Click for Image

This is a photo of Division Avenue or Railroad Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama. Notice the curve of the track and the trucks on the track. The engine has to enter at the bottom of the photo on the left side since the truck is a dead end at the top of the photo. Because of the curvature only the fireman on the left can see whether the trucks are clear of the track. If cars are to be spotted next to the building at the right of the photo, where the white car is parked, they have to be pulled behind the engine; if they are to be spotted at the top of the photo they have to be pushed ahead of the engine. There is also a cross-over in the middle of the photo. The track on the right side is a dead end track at each end, so the engine will have cars at each end of the engine, making it necessary to have a fireman on the left side to receive and relay signals and watch for the cars and trucks on the track. Because of the close clearance of the buildings in the right, signals must be passed on the fireman's side. Also observe the street crossing next to the freight house where trucks are parked. you must have a fireman on an engine pushing cars across a blind street. The track on the left side of photo O-20 is the one at the bottom of photo O-22. At places like this it is very difficult for the switchman to be in a position to be seen at all times, even with a fireman and an engineer on the engine.